She has generously agreed to do a book giveaway on this blog! If you would like Stacy Horn to mail you a free copy of her book, please leave a comment here describing a fond memory you have of singing with other people. (It doesn't have to be the-very-best-memory-ever. Just a positive memory that pops into your head!) I'll choose someone using a random number generator one week from today, and contact you to get your mailing address, so be sure to leave contact info in your comment.

Living in Yamaguchi, Japan for a year teaching English, I had some of my fellow teachers over one night. We all ended up around my keyboard singing songs we all knew despite being from England, N. Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and the US. Such a great bonding experience!

For my friend Ethan's 21st birthday we all went out to a blues club in downtown Easton, where we were seated at a long table. A short while later the waitress came over and sheepishly asked us to move because a group of "regulars" had come in and we were sitting in their spot. We moved graciously, but when the "head" of the regulars found out we moved for them, he bought us a round of drinks and apologized.

After the band was done playing, the regulars invited us over to the table, pulled out a guitar and we all started singing classic rock songs until about 2am. And, given that a few of us were musicians, we provided some nice harmonies to kick it up a notch. It was an epic way to celebrate his 21st, and a night I still talk about to this day.

PS- Yes, this is Scott Hill's brother with whom you ushed at their wedding... :-)

Singing the Brahms Requiem, standing on the floor (first row in front of the risers) just a few feet away from the tympani. The second movement in particular was a full-body experience. When I listen to that piece now, I still get that same feeling in the pit of my stomach.

When I am bid to "go to my happy place," I am rehearsing madrigals with my college group on the old orchestral stage at my alma mater. Dyer's "Down Among the Dead Men" is what's in my head right now as I think about it, although Rachmaninoff's "Bogoroditse Devo" is probably my solid favorite. :)

About Me

My name is Allegra Martin, and I am a Boston-area choral conductor and singer. My jobs include: music director of Cantilena, a women's chorale in Arlington; choral conductor at Lasell College and director of the Lasell Village Voices of Experience; and music director of First Parish Cohasset. I sing in the area with Anthology, Schola Cantorum, and anyone who will hire me! I also teach private lessons in sight-reading, theory, and conducting.